Sri Lanka have announced their squad for the upcoming three-match preparatory T20I series against Pakistan, and former captain Charith Asalanka, who missed out on the previous T20I Tri-series in Pakistan, has been recalled ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka are scheduled to host Pakistan for a three-match T20I series ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, which is limited to Sri Lanka for the Pakistan team. The matches will be played on the 7th, 9th, and 11th of January. The SLC has revealed the squad for the series starting from tomorrow.
Sri Lanka announces squad for Pakistan T20Is; Charith Asalanka’s return confirmed
The Sri Lanka squad announcement has not marked many shocks, as the players for the series have been pretty much predictable. Yet the Lankans have picked 18 players from the 25-member preliminary squad submitted to the ICC for the upcoming World Cup from the 7th of February.
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However, the squad might undergo further evaluation in the upcoming two series that Sri Lanka will host ahead of the T20 World Cup, and a final set of players will be announced for the home World Cup.
As of now, the changes that have been made to the squad that played in the tri-series in Pakistan are Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, and Traveen Matthew, who have been picked for this series. The likes of Pavan Rathnayake, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Asitha Fernando and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth have been snubbed from the squad.
Sri Lanka Squad for T20Is against Pakistan: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Janith Liyanage, Traveen Mathew, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, and Eshan Malinga.
Sri Lanka T20i Squad for upcoming Pakistan Series.
In : Asalanka
Dhananjaya De Silva
Wellalage
Matheesha
TraveenOut : Pavan
Viyaskanth
Bhanuka
Asitha#sportspavilionlk #danushkaaravinda #SLvsPAK #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/cnSXnfWr6A— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) January 6, 2026
Why was Charith Asalanka relieved of the captaincy by the SLC?
During their tour to Pakistan, some players from the Sri Lankan team wanted to return home due to the security threats in Pakistan following the unrest on the western border with Afghanistan.
After PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi promised them watertight security, they decided to stay back; however, Asalanka and Asitha Fernando were among the two players who decided to head back to their country. The SLC had then issued an ultimatum to its players and warned them of consequences if they left the tour midway.
However, later on, Asalanka’s return to the SLC in a statement revealed that he headed back due to an illness and not because he did not value their diktat. However, it was since that series that Sri Lanka moved on from Asalanka as a skipper and re-appointed former captain Dasun Shanaka for the role.
Dasun Shanaka’s appointment for the T20 World Cup as well was made to relieve Asalanka from the burden of leadership so that he could restore his batting form, according to SLC officials.
Sri Lanka to host England after Pakistan ahead of T20 World Cup
After hosting Pakistan for the three-match T20I series, the ICC T20 World Cup co-hosts would also be hosting England for another white-ball series. England will arrive in the island nation after their Ashes campaign and will start with a three-match ODI series from the 22nd of January.
The three-match ODI series will be followed by a three-match T20I series, which is scheduled to be played on the 30th of January, the 1st of February, and the final match on the 3rd of February. They will then host the ICC T20 World Cup starting from the 7th of February.
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